The True Believer: Difference between revisions

'''''The True Believer: Thoughts On The Nature Of Mass Movements''''' is a non-fiction book authored by [[United States|American]] philosopher [[Eric Hoffer]]. Published in 1951, it depicts a variety of arguments in terms of applied [[world history]] and [[social psychology]] to explain why mass movements arise to challenge to status quo, Hoffer discussing the sense of individual [[Identity (social science)|identity]] and the holding to particular [[Ideal (ethics)|ideals]] that can lead to [[fanaticism]] among both leaders and followers.{{fact|date=April 2020}}

Hoffer initially attempts to explain the motives of the various types of personalities that give rise to mass movements in the first place and why certain efforts succeed while many others fail. He goes on to articulate a cyclical view of history such that why and how said movements start, progress and end is explored. Whether indented to be [[Culture|cultural]], [[Ideology|ideological]], [[Religion|religious]], or whatever else, Hoffer argues that mass movements are broadly interchangeable even when their stated goals or values differ dramatically. This makes sense, in the author's view, given the frequent similarities between them in terms of the psychological influences on its adherents. Thus, many will often flip from one movement to another, Hoffer asserts, and the often shared motivations for participation entail practical effects. Since, whether radical or reactionary, the movements tend to attract the same sort of people in his view, the author describes them as fundamentally using the same tactics including possessing the rhetorical tools. As examples, he often refers to the purported political enemies of [[communism]] and [[fascism]] as well as the religions of [[Christianity]] and [[Islam]].{{fact|date=April 2020}}

The first and best-known of Hoffer's books, ''The True Believer'' has been published in twenty-three editions between 1951 and 2002. He later touched upon similar themes in other works.{{fact|date=April 2020}}

Although receiving widespread popular acclaim, the socio-political debate spurred on by the book in terms of academic analysis and commentary has been ongoing. The core thesis of the interchangeability of mass movements and the inherent weakness within them that can cause adherents to slide into dogma and absolutism has attracted significant challenge; multiple scholars have used historical examples of solid group identities that rarely became interchangeable with other communities. Hoffer himself stated that he intended his analysis not to inherently condemn all mass movements in all contexts, particularly citing figures such as [[Jesus of Nazareth]] as those who promoted positive ideals. However, he continued to stress the central argument of his work.{{fact|date=April 2020}}